Apparatus for cleaning relays



8 Sheets-Sheer. 1

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RELAYS Feb. 10, 1959 Filed April 27, 195s Feb. l0, 1959 P. E. ANDERSON ETAL 2,872,693

I APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RELAYS Filed April 27, 195e n v a sheets-sheet 2 ff/6.3 ,if ,/6. 7a

Feb- 10, 1959 P. E: ANDERSON ETAL 2,872,693

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RELAYS Filed April 27, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,VK/s. 5 ,07' @eP/V y Feb. 10, 1959 P. E. ANDERSON ETAL 2,872,693

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RELAYs Filed April 27, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I A I I I I fh y A A l@ 1 I IIl m I Q1?, QI 's A@ e I A: 5

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||| vl ll I Feb. l0, 1959 P. E. ANDERSON ETAL 2,872,693

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RELAYS Filed April 27, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 8 Sheets-Sheer. 6

Feb. 10, 1959 P. E. ANDERSON ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGv RELAYS Filed April 27, 1956 Feb- 10, 1959 P. E. ANDERSON ET AL 2,872,693

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RELAYS 8 Sheets-Sheet 'I Filed April 27, 1956 Feb. 10, 1959 P. E. ANDERSON ETAL 2,872,693

y APPARATUS FOR CLEANING RELAYS Filed April 27, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 2,872,693 APPARATUS non 'CILEANIG nieuwe,

Paul E. Anderson'andClarenceiii. Hinsdale,

llle'assianors. to Western Electric, Company.. Incarnerated, lNew York, N. Y., a corporation .ofvNew York Applicaties; April 27, 19556, Senn No. $81,113 1s crains'. (5cl. iis- 21) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning relays andmore particularly tov an apparatus for moving and brushing relays in a cleaning liquid to clean the contacts -and other portions thereof. v l

An object of theinvention is to provide a novel apparatus for cleaning articles in a liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for moving articles in a cleaning liquid and brushing them to clean portions thereof.

An apparatus illustrating'-certain features of the invention may include an endless conveyor having holders thereon into which relays are placed at a loading station with contacts of the relay disposed upwardly and as the lconveyor is advanced the relays are clamped to the holders and are rotated therewith through one half revolution into engagement with members on their conveyor which spread the contacts to facilitate their cleaning. The conveyor then advances the holders through -a cleaning station and lowers them to move the ends of therelaysinto a first pool of cleaning liquid and into Vengagement with rotating brushes therein for cleaning thecontacts. The armatures of the relays are mechanicallyactuated as the relays are advanced in the pool to cause the cleaning liquid to wash the abutting 'surfaces ofJ the armatures and the stops therefor. The conveyor then raises the relays from the rst pool and dips them into a second pool of filtered cleaning iluid to rinse them, after which the cleanedn'relays are air dried as they are returned to the loading station where vthey are removed from the conveyor. y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and ythe accompanying drawings illustrating a 'preferred embodiment thereof, in which Fig. 1 isa fragmentary plan view of the apparatus for cleaning relays; n

Fig. 2 is a yfragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary Vertical cross-sectional views of the apparatus taken on lines 3 3 and 4 4 Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional views of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of Vthe apparatus taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8,is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus showing the means for supporting and driving the cleaning brushes and for supporting the tank of cleaning iluid;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 showing the tank for holding the cleaning iluid in lowered position;

Fig. l0 is an enlarged side view of the holder for supporting a relay therein 4 Y l Fig. 1l is a fragmentary cross-sectional view ofthe holdertaken on lineV 11,- 11 of Fig. l0 and showing a relay therein in dotted lines;l

12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the holder shown in Fig. l0;

CII

the armature and th` cooperatngvstopl siirfaceth .Each of the relays 20, lias fa middle rowpf sub Fig. `13 is a fragmentary plan sectional view through the holder taken on line 1J-'13 of Fig. 10; and

Figs. 1 4, 15, and 1 6 are front, side, and bottom views, respectively, of a relay. The present apparatus iswdes'igned to dip the Yend portions of wire spring Y1`el:1y sf ,2il (Figs, 14516) into atank of ycleaning liquid and into engagement with rotating brushesv there'into clean the contacts and a 'portion of II-Y square contactsv 22 and two rowsof outer contacts 2 3 and 24 disposed onopposite, Sides Of the contactsllfor alternate' l engagement thei'ewith. `The contacts y22` are mounted on the ends of wiresy 26 andthe contacts and 2.4 .are mour'ited 0.11 .ihefend otwires 27.. aii 28. Slipper-fed in spaced 'and substantially parallel relation tothe wires 26. A card't) of dielectric material, whichis shaped to engage the en d portions ofthe'two rows of wires 27 and 28,- is stressed for movement in ,on'e direction byliiat springs 31 to move the contacts 24 into `engagernent with the middle contacts 22 anfdto disengage theconta'cts `2 3 therefrom. lAu armature 33 is supported forpivotal movement relative to the core 3,4of vthe relay and has an end portio'n engageablelwith thec`ardf30 for moving the card in the opposite directionto d is'engagethe row of contacts` 24 fromthe Amiddle contacts 22and toengage the row of contacts 23itherevvithrin response totenergization ofthe coil 37 of therelay v201. With therelay ,20 in ,its normal, dee'nergiz'ed condition the end, 3 6 of Vthe armature is in engagement witha s 'to'pvv lugS cna 'plate39 secured to, the` core 34 and the :end 3'6 moves from the stop lu'gS whenthe relay is energized and the armature is moved into engagement with the core .34. Generally, the apparatus. ccmrissgan endless .conveyor (Figs. 2 -,7,)` having a plurality of spaced relaylholders 4 6 into which vthe relaysi 20 -are placed ,by an operator at a leading and unlading station 434mg. 2) withy the contacts of the relay ,dirle'ctedupwardly. A clamping varm von each of vtheholders 46, which is,norrn'ally held open at the "ding stationtFig. 47),.clanip's the relay 20 inthe holler as'th'e holder is moved from the loading stationhy the conveyor into a cleaning stationY 51. A Astationary rack (Fig. 5).` disposed betweenthe vstations 48 and 5 1 engages agear 52 on the-,holder and rotates the holderthroug"hl80 to position the contacts downwardly and tornove the relay 20 into engagement with arcuate spreadingqtingers 56 Y(Figs. 10 .and 11).(o'n the holder for separating the contacts 23,'. and 24. from the contacts 22, and tofmo've the relay 20 into engagement with va lever 57 on the holder foractuating the'armature 33, As the holders are advanced into the cleanings ta-` tion they are lowered Yto bring thelower portion of the relays into a pool of c1eaning liquid 58A in a compartment 59 4 of atan'ko and into engagement with rotary brushes lfwhich cooperate with the cleaning fluid to clean the contacts., Th e lever 5'7 is actuatedtooscillate thearmature 36- and causethe cleaningFliquidto ow between and clean the abutting 1surfaces ofthe armature 3 3rand the'stop lug 38. The h'older 46 and the relay 20 are .raised from the compartment 5'9 of; the tank and dippedinto apoolof the` vfresh cleaning liquid S8 in a compartment ofthe tank '60,after .which the relay 20 is raised therefrom andthe gear. 52 V.on the holder engages astationary rack 64 .(Fig. 6) andis ro;- tated .thereby through 18 0 to return the holder and the relay to, theirfnornal upright position. The relays are airvdried on thein return t'oj theunlo'ading station 48 where they are removed from the apparatus More sp'ec i tca lly,'thev conveyor 4S .comprises a-,pair ofrendless.chainsv .(Figs. 37) whichare entrained about pairs of sprockets 71 and 72 fixed to shafts 73 and 74, respectively, which are supported in bearings ,members 79, and horizontal transverse frame members 80. Panels 81 of sheet material are applied to the outer frame members to form a housing enclosing the apparatus except for an opening 82 (Figs. 2 and 4) at the loading and unloading station 48 through which the relays may be loaded onto the holders 46 of the conveyor and unloaded therefrom.

The chains of the conveyor have U-shaped shoes 85 (Figs. 7 and 9) fastened thereto at predetermined spaced intervals for supporting the holders 46. The shoes 85 each have a web 86 and a pair of end plates 87, and slidably engage and are supported between a guide member 88 and a guide plate 89 of a track 90 for supporting the conveyor and guiding it through a predetermined path. The end plates 87 of the shoes 85 straddle a pair of guide rails 91 on the guide plate 89 for preventing lateral displacement of the conveyor. The guide member 88 and the guide plate 89 are supported on brackets 92 which are secured to vertical frame members 79. The conveyor 45 is intermittently actuated to advance the holders 46 and the relays 20 step by step by drive means including a motor and gear reducer unit 95 (Fig. 2), a Geneva movement 96, and suitable chain and sprocket connections to the shaft 74 (Fig. 2).

Secured to an end plate 87 of each of the shoes 85 is a mounting bracket (Figs. lil-13), a portion of which extends laterally beyond the shoe as viewed in Fig. 10 and has a transversely disposed head 101 (Fig. 13) to which the spreading fingers 56 are secured. The spreading members 56 a-re at and relatively thin and have enlarged portions 102 which are secured to the head 101 with a spacer 103 therebetween to stationarily support the spreading members on the bracket 100 in a predetermined spaced relation to each other and to the relay in the holder. 46. The end plates 87 and the mounting bracket 100 are apertured to provide bearings for rotatably supporting a shaft 104 on which the gear 52 and the relay holder 46 are mounted.

Each of the holders 46 comprises a plate 106 which is secured to the shaft 104 and to the gear 52 for rotation therewith and against which the relay 20 is clamped by the arm 50. A pair of transversely disposed brackets 107 are mounted on the plate 106 for Lreceiving a relay 20 therebetween, and a plate 108 is secured to the brackets 107 in parallel and spaced relation to the plate 106 and has a flat end surface 109 for engaging a frame member 110 of the relay 20 for supporting the relay in the holder 46 when the holder is in its normal upright position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A pair of pivot lugs 112 formed on the plate 108 support a pivot pin 113 on which the clamping arm 50 is pivotally mounted. A spring 114 stresses the arm for rocking movement about the pivot pin 113 to cause an end of the arm to engage the coil 37 of the relay 20 and yieldably clamp the relay against the plate 106 of the holder as shown in Fig. 1l. A roller 115 mounted on one end of the clamping a-rrn 50 engages a stationary cam 116 (Fig. 4) mounted on a horizontal frame member 78 at the loading station 48 for moving the arm to open position to permit the loading and unloading of the relays 20 into and out of the holders 46 at the loading station. A stop screw 117 on the plate 108 of the holder limits the movement of the clamping arm 50 when no relay 20 is in the holder.

The holder 46 is yieldably retained in its upright position as it traverses the loading station 48 and in its inverted position as it traverses the cleaning station by means of a ball detent (Fig. 1l) which is mounted in a bore 121 in the shoe 85 and the plate 100 and which is urged by a spring 122 into engagement with a pair of recesses 123 in the gear 52 on the holder 46.

Thus, as the relay holders 46 are advanced step by step at the loading station 48 with the clamping arms 50 in open position, `relays are placed therein and as the holders leave the loading station the rollers 115 ride oi of the cam 116, the clamping arms 50 are actuated by the springs 114 to clamp the relays 20 in the holders 46. As the holders advance to the cleaning station 51 the stationary rack 54 serves to rotate the holders 46 through 180 and move the relays into engagement with the spreading members 56 and the lever 57, and also to position the relays 20 with the contacts 22, 23, 24 lowermost. The spreading members 56 which are positioned to pass between the rows of wires 26, 27, 28 (Fig. 13) have sloping surfaces 125 and straight surfaces 126 (Fig. 13) for Spreading the rows of wires 27 and 28 relative to each other and holding them in spread relation to separate the outer rows of contacts 23 and 24 from the middle row of contacts 22 in order to facilitate the cleaning thereof.

'Ihe end 127 of the lever 57 of the holder 46 engages the armature 33 of the relay 20 for actuating it to separate the end thereof from the stop lug 38 in response to actuation of the lever 57 to facilitate the cleaning of the abutting surfaces of the stop lug 38 and the armature 33 as previously mentioned. As viewed in Fig. l0

`the lever 57 is bent and is pivotally mounted at its other end to a member 129 on the bracket 100. Intermediate its ends the lever 57 is connected to one end of a rod 130 which is slidably mounted for horizontal movement in an aperture in the bracket 100 and the spreading ngers 56, and the lever is stressed for movement to a normal retracted position in engagement with a spreading finger 56 by a spring 132 interposed between a head 133 of the rod 130 and a finger 56. A plurality of stationary cams (Figs. 7 and 13) supported on brackets 136 mounted on the guide plate 88 in spaced relation to each other along the path of travel of the holders, engage the head 133 of the rod 130 to actuate the lever 57 and oscillate armature 33 of the relay at intervals during movement of the relay in the pool of cleaning liquid 58 for the purpose of getting the cleaning liquid between the abutting surfaces of the armature 33 and the lstop lug 38 to wash away foreign material therefrom. A portion of the track 90 is straight (Fig. 5) to support the conveyor 45 and the holders 46 for horizontal movement through the loading station 48 and while the holders 46 and the relays 20 therein are inverted and ride over the end wall of the tank 60, and the track then slopes downwardly at 141 to cause the ends of the relays 20 to be lowered into the pool of cleaning uid 58 and into engagement with the brushes 61. The track continues horizontally for maintaining the ends of the relays in the cleaning liquid and for guiding them into engagement with successive brushes 61 as the relays are advanced step by step in the cleaning station until they near the end of the compartment 59 where a curved portion 142 of the track 90 (Figs. 6 and 9) elevates the holders and raises the relays out of the pool of the cleaning liquid in the compartment 59 and over the partition 143 of the tank 60 and lowers them into the compartment 63 and into the pool of ltered cleaning liquid 58 and into engagement with the cleaning brush 61 therein. The track then slopes upwardly at 144 to elevate the conveyor and raise the relays from the cleaning liquid and over the end wall 14S of the tank 60. After the holders and the relays leave the cleaning station 51 and move horizontally therefrom the gears 52 of the holders engage the stationary rack 64, which is mounted on brackets fixed to vertical frame members and serves to rotate the holders 46 through one-half revolution and return the holders and the relays 20 to their upright position before the conveyor carries them around the sprockets 72.

The cleaning liquid may be of any suitable kind, such as tri-chlor-ethylene. rlhe fumes of the cleaning liquid ,are withdrawn from the apparatus through openings 146 bearings 182 (Fig.

andenes fn s; (Figs. 1 andern tnenpper portion inenting ttt/0p- '1` t` `s"ite"ends of the apparatus by suitable lexhaust means.

Thetank 60 which is divided by the partition y143 into two compartments 59 and '63 comprises in 'addition to the partition 143 and end walls 140 vand 145, a bottom wall 147, and side Walls 148 (Fig. 7). yThe cleaning fluid 58 is pumped by a pump 151 (Fig. 6) from a supply tank or reservoir 150 through a lilter 1152 Yand laeXible n pipeline 153 into the lower portion of Athe compartment 63 of the tank v60 and Hows over the partition 143 into the compartment 59, the upper edge of the partition being disposed a predetermined distance below vthle upper edge of the tank 60. Troughs or gutters 155 (Fig. 7) are mounted on the side walls 147 vof the tank in the compartment 59 with the upper edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance below the upper vedge of the partition 143 for limiting the height of the pool of cleaning liquid in the compartment 59 and for receivingfthe overow of liquid'th'erefrom. The troughs 155 are connected by a U-shaped conduit 156 (Fig. 7) to a pipe line 157 which returns the overflow cleaning liquid to the reservoir 150. With this arrangement, fresh filtered cleaning Huid is supplied to the compartment 63 and is maintained therein at a predetermined level and overflows into the compartment 59 which is maintained at a slightly lower leved. Dirt and foreign material washed from the relays in the compartment 59 yare carried by the overow into the gutters and returned to the supply tank and filtered out of the cleaning liquid by the filter 152.

To render the brushes 61 accessible for replacement and adjustment the tank 60 is mounted for vertical movement relative to the stationary brushes 61. For this purpose the tank has secured to each end thereof a pair of reinforcing bars 160 (Figs. 5, 6, 8, and 9) which have threaded apertured bosses 161 engaging threaded portions 162 of vertically disposed elevating shafts 163. These shafts are mounted in suitable bearings 164 on the transverse frame members 80 and in bearings formed in a pair of arms 166 secured to a longitudinal frame member 78. Spiral gears 167 lixed to the shafts 163 mesh with spiral gears 168 tixed to horizontal shafts 169, and the shafts 169 each have a second spiral gear fastened thereto which meshes with spiral gears 171 on a horizontal shaft 172 which is journalled in suitable bearings. The elevating shafts 163 are thus interconnected for simultaneous operation and by applying a crank to one end of one of the shafts 169 and turning it the` tank 60 may be raised to an lowered from the normal operative position in Figs. and 6.

The rotary brushes 61 are fixed to shafts 176 (Figs.

5-9) which are rotatably supported in a box-like frame 177. This frame comprises a pair of end frame members 178, an intermediate U-shaped frame member 179 for receiving the partition 143 lof the tank 60, and longitudinal members or the frame members 17S and 179 to form side and top walls, respectively.

The shafts 176 are journalled in 7) formed on the side walls 180. Arms 184 extending laterally from the end frame members 178 above the end walls 145 of the tank each have 3 a pair of threaded apertures for receiving the threaded upper ends of a pair` of turnbuckles 186, the lower ends of which are threaded in apertured bosses formed on brackets 188 supported on transverse frame members 80. The turnbuckles 186 may be rotated to adjust the brushes 61 vertically relative to the relays 20 in the holders 46 to compensate for wear of the bristles thereof, and the frame 177 and the brushes 61 are locked in adjusted position by vlock nuts 189 on the turnbuckles.

Sprockets 191 on the shafts 176 at each end of the frame 177 (Figs. 8 and 9) are connected by chains 192 to sprockets 193 on shafts 194 which are rotatably supported in the upper end of the end frame members 178. The shafts 194 also have sprockets 195 thereon over which a' 'chain 197 is entrained and this chain is driven' plates 180 and 181 interconnecting i the. Conveyor up v.and down .as

A'from a sprocket on Vthe a Agear reducer unit 96 (Fig. 2). The brush supporting shafts l76disposed'to the left of the intermediate frame member 179 as Viewed in Figs. 8 and 9 lhave spiral gears 200 (Fig. 7) secured thereto which mesh with spiral gears 201 on a shaft 202 which is jour'nalled in suitable bearings in theframe members 178 and'179. Thus, all of the brushes are interconnected for simultaneous rotation and in response to rotationof the drive shafts 194 by the chain 197 rotation is imparted to each of the brushes 61 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 to brush and clean the contacts as they are moved into engagement therewith. `The relays 2'0 are air dried during their return movement on the conveyor and upon arrival at the unloading station 48 the relays 20 are removed from the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements r'nay be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention andV fall within lthe spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, an open tank for holding a poolofcleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays therein, a conveyor for supporting the holders and the relays for movement thereon to and from first and second positions and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to immerse the ends of the relays in the pool of cleaning liquid, means on the conveyor for separting the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holders 'to the,second position, means engageable with successive holders for moving them on the conveyor from the rst position to the second position before the relays are immersed in the pool of cleaning liquid, and means en gageable with successive holders for moving them from the second position to the first position after the relays have been withdrawn from the pool of cleaning liquid.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, rotary brushes mounted in the tank and pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays therein,` a conveyor for supporting the holders and the relays for movement thereon to and from rst and second positions and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to move the ends of the relays into the pool of cleaning liquid and the contacts into engagement with the brushes, means on the conveyor for separating the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holder to the second position, drive means for actuating the conveyor and rotating the brushes, stationary means engageable with successive holders for moving them on the conveyor from the rst position to thek second position before the relays are immersed in the pool, and Stationary means engageable with successive holders for' moving them from the second position to the first position after the relays have been withdrawn from the pool.

3. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, a conveyor having a plurality of holders oscillatably mountedthereon for supporting the relays and moving them through a loading station and a cleaning station, releasable means on the holder for retaining the relays therein, means at the loading station for actuating thel releasable means on the holder to permit the loading of the relays into the holder in a first position with the contacts directed upwardly, means for oscillating thev holders to a second position on the conveyor after they leave the loading station to position the relays with the contacts disposed downwardly, adjacent the holders for separating the contacts of the relays in response to movement of the holders and the relays to the second position, a tank for holdingv a pool of cleaning fluid in the cleaning station, means for guiding it t traverses the cleaning station to effect the movement of the lower portion of means on the conveyor" 7 the relays into the pool of cleaning fluid, and means for oscillating theV holders to the first position after the relays have been removed from the pool of cleaning fluid.

4. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, a conveyor having a plurality of holders rotatably mounted thereon for supporting the relays and moving them through a loading station and a cleaning station, means for yieldably clamping the relays to the holders, means at the loading station for actuating the clamping means to permit the loading of the relays into the holders in a first position with the contacts disposed upwardly, means for rotating the holders to a second position after they leave the loading station to position the relays with the contacts disposed downwardly, means on the conveyor adjacent the holders for separating the contacts of the relays in response to movement of the holders and the relays to the second position, a tank of cleaning fluid in the cleaning station disposed beneath the conveyor, rotary brushes in the tank, means for guiding the conveyor up and down as it traverses the cleaning station to eiect the movement of the contacts on the relays into the cleaning fluid and into engagement with the brushes, and drive means for rotating the brushes and actuating the conveyor.

5. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays therein, a carrier for oscillatably supporting the holders and the relays and for advancing them through a predetermined path to move the ends of the relays into and out of the pool of cleaning liquid, means for oscillating the holders from a first position to a second position to dispose the relays with the contacts at the lower portion thereof before the relays enter the pool of cleaning liquid, means on the carrier for separating the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holder to the second position, and means for oscillating the holder from the second position to the first position after the relays are moved from the pool of cleaning liquid.

6. In an apparatus for cleaning the abutting surfaces of armatures and stops therefor of relays, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays therein, a conveyor for supporting the holders for movement thereon and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to move the ends of the relays into the pool of cleaning liquid and horizontally therein, means on the conveyor including elements adjacent the holders for moving the armatures of the relays from the stops therefor, means for moving the holders on the conveyor from a first position in spaced relation to the armature moving means to a second position with the armature in engagement with the element of the armature moving means, and stationary means for actuating the armature moving means to move the armature as the relay is advanced in the pool of cleaning liquid.

7. In an apparatus for cleaning the abutting surfaces of armatures and stops therefor on relays, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays therein, a conveyor for supporting the holders for oscillation thereon and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to move the ends of the relays into the pool of cleaning liquid and horizontally therein, means on the conveyor including elements adjacent the holders for moving the armatures of the relays from the stops therefor, means for oscillating the holders on the conveyors from a first position in spaced relation to the armature moving means to a second position with the armature in engagement with the element of the'armature moving means, stationary cam means for actuating the armature moving means to move the armature as the ielay is moved horizontally in the pool of cleaning liquid, and means for oscillating the holder from the second position to the first position after the relays are withdrawn from the pool of cleaning liquid.'

8. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, a frame, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, means on the frame for raising and lowering the tank to and from a normal upper position and la lower position, a plurality of rotatable brushes, stationary means on said frame for rotatably supporting the brushes within the tank in its upper position and for permitting movement of the tank to and from upper and lower positions, a plurality of holders for supporting relays therein, a conveyor mounted on said frame for carrying the holders and the relays therein through a predetermined path to move the ends of the relays into and out of the pool of cleaning liquid and into and out of engagement with the brushes therein, and drive means for rotating the brushes and moving the conveyor.

9. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, a frame, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, means on the frame for raising and lowering the tank to and from a normal operative position and a lower inoperative position, a plurality of rotatable brushes, stationary means on said frame for rotatably supporting the brushes within the tank in a predetermined position and for permitting movement of the tank to and from operative and inoperative positions, a plurality of holders for supporting relays therein, a conveyor mounted on said frame for carrying the holders and the relays therein through a predetermined path to move the ends of the relays into and out of the pool of cleaning liquid and into and out of engagement with the brushes therein, drive means for rotating the Abrushes and moving the conveyor, and means for vertically adjusting the stationary brush supporting means to adjust the position of the brushes relative to the path of movement of the holders and the relays.

l0. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, a tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays, a conveyor for supporting the holders for movement thereon to and from first and second positions and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to immerse portions of the relays in the pool of cleaning liquid, means on the conveyor for separating the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holders to the second position, and means for moving the holders to the second position at a predetermined point in their path of movement.

ll. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts and movable portions of relays, a tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays, a conveyor for supporting the holder for movement thereon to and from first and second positions and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to immerse portions of the relays in the pool of cleaning liquid, means on the conveyor for separating the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holders to the second position, means for moving the holders to the second position at a predetermined point in their path of movement, and means for actuating the movable portions of the relay back and forth as the relays are advanced in the tank of cleaning fluid.

12. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts of relays, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a rotary brush mounted in the tank and pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays, a conveyor for supporting the holders for movement thereon to and from first and second positions and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to move the relays into thc pool of cleaning liquid and the contacts into engagement with the brush, means on the conveyor for separating the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holder from the first position to the second position, drive means for actuating the conveyor and rotating the brush, and means for moving the holders on the conveyor from the rst position to the second position on the conveyor at a predetermined point in their path of movement.

13. In an apparatus for cleaning contacts and movable portions of relays, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a rotary brush mounted in the tank and pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays, a conveyor for supporting the holders for movement thereon to and from rst and second positions and for movement therewith through a predetermined path to move the relays into the pool of cleaning liquid and the contacts and movable portions into engagement with the brush, means on the conveyor for separating the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holder from the lirst position to the second position, drive means for actuating the conveyor and rotating the brush, means for moving the holders on the conveyor from the first position to the second position on the conveyor at a predetermined point in their pathof movement, and means for actuating the movable portions of the relay back and forth as the relays are advanced in the tank of cleaning liquid.

14. ln an apparatus for cleaning contacts on relays, an open tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting relays, a conveyor for supporting the holders and for advancing them through a predetermined path to move the contacts on the relays into and out of the cleaning liquid, means for oscillating the holders on the conveyor at a predetermined point in their path of travel from a rst position with the contacts directed upwardly to a second position with the contacts directed downwardly, and means on the conveyor for separating the contacts on the relays in response to movement of the holders tothe second position.

l5. In an apparatus for cleaning the abutting surfaces of armatures and stops of relays, a tank for holding a pool of cleaning liquid, a plurality of holders for supporting the relays, a conveyor for supporting the holders for Inovement therewith to advance the ends of the relays in the pool o1' cleaning liquid along a predetermined path, means on the conveyor for moving the armatures of the relays from their stops, and means for actuating the armature moving means to move the armature back and forth as the relay is advanced in the cleaning liquid.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,045 Swain et al Oct. 6, 1925 1,587,213 Brown June 1, 1926 1,853,996 Putzell Apr. 12, 1932 1,989,977 Galson Feb. 5, 1935 2,412,565 Davis Dec. 17, 1946 2,719,993 Salkin Oct. 11, 1955 

